Channel 4’s Chief Content Officer Ian Katz has confirmed the appointments of three key roles in his senior commissioning team.
Three newly appointed Heads of Department - Alisa Pomeroy, Steven Handley and Ollie Madden - will take up the reins alongside existing editorial commissioning leadership team Pete Andrews, Louisa Compton, Sacha Khari, Viv Molokwu, Shaminder Nahal, Charlie Perkins and Jo Street.
Meanwhile, Kiran Nataraja takes on the expanded role of Director of Streaming & Content Strategy, assuming editorial leadership of Channel 4 streaming in addition to her existing responsibilities managing the TV channel portfolio and programme acquisitions.
Each of the Heads of Department will be tasked to deliver against the broadcaster’s recently announced Fast Forward strategy which will see it reducing its headcount by 18%, moving out of its Horseferry Road HQ, and becoming a digital-first public service streamer” by 2030.
Pomeroy becomes Head of Documentaries & Factual Entertainment, overseeing shows from 24 Hours in Police Custody to Gogglebox. Pomeroy has been Head of Documentaries since 2022.
Handley takes up the newly created post of Head of Reality & Entertainment, having been Channel 4’s Interim Head of Entertainment since 2023 and previously held the role of Commissioning Editor in Entertainment since 2018.
Madden will take on the newly combined role of Director of Film4 and Channel 4 Drama. Since joining Film4 in 2017 Madden has overseen a slate including Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things, Jonathan Glazer’s The Zone of Interest and Molly Manning-Walker’s How To Have Sex.
Katz’s leadership team will oversee seven commissioning hubs and will commission across digital and linear platforms and channels. Katz said: “These changes, alongside a group of outstanding HoDs already in place, mean we now have an exceptional group of creative leaders who will ensure that Channel 4 remains the most exciting, creative, and innovative organisation to work with. We have adapted to evolving viewer behaviour and want to remain a trusted, relevant and loved brand for viewers for generations to come.”
US writers call on Hollywood studios to take action against AI firms
The Writers Guild of America (WGA) has called on Hollywood studios to “come off the sidelines” and prevent tech companies from allegedly using its members’ works to train AI platforms.
Arte joins European Broadcasting Union
Arte, the Franco-German public service broadcaster, has become the newest member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).
Lee Walters appointed Chair of BAFTA Cymru
BAFTA has named Lee Walters as Chair of its Wales branch BAFTA Cymru.
Paris 2024 audience hit five billion – IOC report
Around five billion people, or 84% of the potential global audiences, followed the Olympic Games Paris 2024, according to research conducted on behalf of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
ITV strikes partnership deal with YouTube
ITV is to make hundreds of hours of its programmes available to viewers on YouTube.